The Battle to Protect the Ballot: Voter Suppression Measures Passed Since 2011

Florida passed broad voter suppression legislation (HB 1355) that restricts voter registration, early voting and more.

Because of Florida's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice. The ACLU is asking the federal government to object to this discriminatory new law (more).

Also in 2011, Florida's governor and his cabinet -- acting as the Board of Executive Clemency -- adopted a policy change that makes it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights. This voting ban affects an estimated one million Floridians.

Georgia passed legislation (HB 92) to shorten the early voting period.

Iowa's governor issued an executive order (Executive Order 70) making it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights.

Kansas passed legislation (HB 2067) to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.

Though the Maine legislature passed a bill (LD 1376) to eliminate Election Day registration,* the legislation was reversed by a “people's veto” that appeared on the November 2011 ballot and reinstated Election Day registration. (More »)

*The ACLU supports Election Day registration schemes that do not include photo or non-photo ID requirements.

This November, Minnesotans will decide whether the state constitution should be amended to require all voters to present government-issued photo ID to vote.

Mississippi approved a ballot measure (Initiative 27) to amend the state constitution to require a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.

Because of Mississippi's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

North Carolina amended its procedure for verifying the citizenship of registered voters. Under the new policy, people who obtained driver's licenses as non-citizens – even if they became citizens subsequently – will be purged from the voter rolls unless they take extra measures to prove their citizenship.

Because of North Carolina's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice.

New Hampshire passed legislation (SB 289) requiring voters to show a photo ID before casting a ballot. On Election Day 2012, voters without the required photo ID still will be allowed to vote, so long as they sign an affidavit and respond to a post-election mailing from the Secretary of State.

Though the broad suppression legislation that passed last year (HB 194) was supposed to be on this November 2012 ballot for a potential “people's veto,” legislators repealed the underlying law and passed new suppression measures instead. This is a way for legislators to avoid giving the people of Ohio a chance to vote against voter suppression laws.

Legislation (HB 934) to require photo ID to vote was signed by Governor Corbett.

Rhode Island passed legislation (S 400A) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.

South Carolina passed legislation (H 3003) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.

Because of South Carolina's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  On December 23, 2011, the Department of Justice denied pre-clearance of this attempt to suppress the vote.

The South Dakota legislature passed a bill that strips people on probation of their right to vote.

Because of South Dakota's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice.

Tennessee passed legislation (SB 16) to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The state also passed legislation (SB 352 and SB 923 respectively) to require proof of citizenship from certain registered voters and to shorten the early voting period.

Texas passed legislation (SB 14) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The state also passed legislation (HB 1570 and HB 2194) that restricts voter registration drives.

Because of Texas' troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  On March 12, 2012, the Department of Justice denied preclearance of SB 14.

A new law in Virginia will require voters who do not show one of the required forms of ID to vote using a provisional ballot, which may or may not count.

Wisconsin passed legislation (AB7) to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.